Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Paint Black and White Portraits

Recently, I've noticed how timelessly the kids' early black and white art projects have stood time. We have many up in the house. I wondered if you've noticed this, too? The, above, black and white portrait was painted by our oldest when he was just 6 and I still love it. These days, it's hard to slow him up and and put a paint brush in his hands; this weekend, we did! Gather paints , paint --- after all, just one color needed (easy pick up, too!) --- and we painted portraits (both of ourselves and of others... like the circus strong man!) If you'd like something even easier than getting out 1 tube of paint, I've created a PDF Printable (below) for you, too!

Start by having the kids look at themselves in the mirror. This is an exercise to understand "negative space" and a way for kids to understand space. Rather than starting by concentrating on the details of their faces (eyes, nose, mouth...); you could even take a piece of black paper, hold it behind their head and ask them to look what they see. Ask them to describe the area around their heads and shape of their heads and start there --- not the details of their face, but the shape.

Once they've used their eyes, it's time to draw this shape onto the middle of your painting surface. Take out the pencil and have the kids draw the outer shape of their heads.

Now, start painting by filling in the entire back around around their head in black.

Once this background area is painted, it's time for the facial details. Start with a pencil sketch and then, paint over the pencil with paint. (Use black only) Let dry and Bravo: A Portrait in Black and White!
Happy Making!

great project! It was so lovely to meet you at ALT. I came home and told my best friend we should move to Sweden to be neighbors with you! Love your blog, it's just as beautiful as you are. I hope we meet again someday ;)

Laurie, I'm so complimented to have you "stop by" and for your very, thoughtful note. Thank you. It was truly so very nice to meet, too. I'm still inspired by our conversations and your creative energy!! I do hope we'll meet again... until the, I love that we can meet this way! Thanks so much for coming by! I'll do the same!

Hello

Welcome to my home in Sweden, between the city + the sea. I’m so happy to have you come along with us on a quest to raise a happy, curious and creative family. Here, we also share projects that we’ve made with our own two hands for you to make with your own two hands, too. For more, click here.

You can reach me at: willowtweet (at) gmail (dot) com.

Thank you!

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